Tennis-racket.



. citizen of the` 'United States, l

Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State CURL? B. MUELLER, OF CLEVELAND, OHXO.

TENNIIS-RACKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

application inea october 5, isos.

i Patented Get. 4, 1910.- seriai no. 521,047.

To all whom 'it may conce, A

Be it known that l, Cuna: l. hina-Minn, a

resident of of Chio, have invented nenT and ,useful vImprovei'nent in Tennisltackets, of'vvhich the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode .in which l. have contemplated applying that principle so as' to distinguish it Yfrom other inventions. A

My invention, relates to -tennis rackets, While more particularly to a new `and iinproved manner of stringi-ng the net in its Jframe, and involving the use or reinforcing strings-in a more eilicient manner.

One or" the features vof a tennis racket, perhaps by general acknowledgment ac credited primary importance, and certainly that feature which contributes more toward its universaly adaptability than anyother, is its manner of net Stringing. )To meet the divers requirements,- and in order to insure of absolute reliability and general ellectiveness, the middle or most used portion of the net should maintain a practically uniform,

taut and standard-sized mesh at all times.-

Hence the demand arises for means espen cially devised to insure at one and-the samey strung-1n accordance with the principles of time these several essentials.

Heretofore reinforcing strings have' been patentably 'interwoven with the nets of ten nis rackets in a number of different Ways, the object of some oi these 'patents having been to attain such auniversal adaptability. However, in those-actually effecting results of comparative merit in the way ol strings held more tightly and accordingly less likely to slip upon each other, such reinforcing strings Ahave been strung through or near the middle, and accordingly resulted in a finer mesh at the most used portion of the net. These systems of Stringing a' tennis racket,

'While eiect-ually fulfilling one or both oit' the objects above suggested, have in the attainment'thereof; done so at the cost of such -a uniform and standard sized mesh at the middle or effective `playing surface ot the net. Thus a decidedly more prejudical re suit, namely, an individually smaller and less decided) grip-of-contact upon the ball was substituted. Such a relatively smooth rebounding surface occasions a marked tendency ci the ball to slip, and this is mani t'estly quite an appreciable factor of detriment in the many strokes Whose electiveness is directly and frequentlywvholly de-l pendent upon' the twist to be given the ball.

The object of this invention then, is to construct a vtennis racket Which, besides embodying sundry practical and theoretical improvements to be pointed out, shall more certainly combine and electively utilize all the various and well-recognized advantages ot reinforcing strings, and yet be entirely free from any accompanying disadvantages outweighingin relative importance any advantages heretofoieattained.

The said inventionconsists of certain means Which are hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail'one mode of carrying out the invention, the disclosed mode, however, constituting but one of various Ways in Which the vprinciple of the invention may be applied,

In said annexed draWig-Figure l Ais a face view of a tennis racket having the netl this invention, the4 main part of the handle being shown as broken away. Fig. 2 is a flike View of a variation of my invention,

some of the features being omitted. Fig. 3

is a like view of a second variation, bearing a diliferentgrelation-to-the frame.

y Fig. 4- isan enlarged view more clearly 4showing the 4method of looping certain reinforclng lstrings adjacent to one corner of the frame.

Fig. o is a similar enlarged View .at an adjoining corner.

.Referring to the drawing, in Whichylike letters andnumerals of reference designate' like parts throughout the several views, the

letter A is applied to so much of the handle as is shown. The curved frame B is secured to this handle on either side, in .the usual or any other approved manner, is prefer-V ably slightly thickened at the' corners b', b2,

o3 and bt, as drawn, and incloses any desired 'form oli wedge C, adjacent to said handle.

' is' strung within the frame B through open-- l tively,

y el'ected either by A net composed ot' longitudinally extending strings D and laterally extending strings It ings, not shown, since the method of looping the strings through the frame is well known. This net has a number of longitudinally extending strings adjacent to said frame on each side, strung closer and preferably twice as closely as the normal longitudinal spacing of the remainder of these strings. i Like-wise a number of laterally extending strings c adjacent to the tip B and Wedge C respecare strung closer and preferably twice as closely as the normal lateral spacing of the remainder of these strings. The number of more closely woven strings should preferably be such that the ones most remotely adjacent to each `face of the frame shall intersect to form a nearly maximum. sized rectangle, the corners ot which are non-contiguous to the frame, it being desirable to have the normal mesh as extensive as possible within the scope of this invention. It will be manifest that this closer Stringing adjacent the four sides of the frame may be continuations oi the same strings or by separate unconnected strings. l/Vith such an inwardly extent for the more closely woven strings, a doubly tine resulting mesh will loe-formed at the central sections of the corners b', b2, b3 and b4, as will be easily seen in the drawing. These corners `being the portions of the frame normally subjected to disproportionate strain, will ac-l cordingly be spared of any sudden concentrated shock, on the theory of the distribution ot stress through a greater number of strings to a largerportion of the frame, and consonantl-y, the corners of the frame will be indirectly strengthened. The more closely woven lateral strings e adjacent to the tip and wedge of said frame tend of themselves to tighten the longitudinal strings forming the standard sized mesh at the middle, and alsol as a matter of course appreciably aid in preventing their lateral displacement by slipping. In the same way, the more closely woven longitudinally extending strings d" adjacent to the sides of said frame tend to both tighten and eiectually secure the laterally extending strings forming standardsized mesh at the middle against appreciable slipping. To illustrate in this connection the principle upon which the maintenance of auniform mesh at the middle is assured, it will be apparent that the shorter the distance between the two points .from which any strii g is strung with a certain degree of tightnes the less likelihood of any considerable stretch with resulting looseness and lateral give. In other words, the strings d e', by making it more dillicult for the strings D and E to slip on each other, Serve the middle of the frame, the opening g.

. along the frame,

to maintain the uniformity of the mesh at the middle of the net. My improved reinforcing adaptation ii'icidentally lends itself' pronouncedly intersect the boundaries of a` nearly centrally disposed. rectangle, to be composed or' uniform and standard-sized mesh. In my preferred system, however, l employ two separate strings F and G, the same being interwoven with relation to my improved net in lthe following manner: Starting with one free end of the string G, as looped through two openings c', in the central part of the exposed face of the wedge C, I interweave this end obliquely as far as the center of the particular mesh in the b corner of the rectangle, then outwardly through the frame at b', and back again through another opening, then back to the center of the same mesh, then across the frame parallel 'with the strings E, as far as the center of the particular mesh in the b* corner, then oblique-ly to and out through Next I take the other free end of string G and interweave it obliquely from the opening c in the wedge G to the center of the mesh in the b4 corner, where'it passes under, then over, the other free end previously passed through'this mesh, then outwardly again along said frame, and through the next opening, then obliquely back to the center of the same mesh over itself, but under the other free end, as best seen in Fig. 4, then across the frame in a direction parallel with strings D, as far as the center of the' particular mesh 1n the b3 corner, Where after looping around string F it turns back to be finally interwoven obliquely again to meet with and be tied to its other end at the side of the frame. The second string F is strung in the same identical manner beginning with the two free ends from the tip B, and so as to loop around both parts of the string G in the b corner, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and in the same manner in which string G loops around both parts of string F in the b3 corner. It will be understood that these strings F and G are interwoven in the net proper with the regular over and under weave. They are, moreover, withA respect to their operative relation to the strings in through the frame .'at b4, back the net proper absolutely independent, while their function is in so' far identical with that ot'l the reinforcing strings al and e that it ulilled either with or without the inclusion of the latter.

The modified form shown in Fig. 2. is merely simplified -by the omission of the separate oblique strings F G, while the variation shown in F ig. 3 is a relative variation with respect to the-major axis of the frame, the standard. uniforniweave of the net being inclined at an angle in the drawing, and preferably at forty-,tive (45') degrees, with respect to said axis. The more closely woven `longitudinal and laterally extending strings ywith respect to the major axis of theI A traine and 'adjacent thereto are in this form preferably spaced apart half the diagonal distance of said standard mesh, so as to eX-k teiid obliquely therethrough midway between the corners of said mesh. It will thus be seen that thisI variation combines theV two distinctive' features of Figs. 1 and 2,*in have ing a ner mesh surrounding a rectangle disposed on the major axis, such liner mesh being, however, formed by a series ot strings oblique with respect to the middle standard sized mesh.

The provision of oblique strings to eiect` a distribution and consequent lessenlng of.

stress at any given point is a well-known 'reinforcing expedient of mechanics. As applied, however, in conjunction with the usual right-angl-ed weave in the net of a tennis racket, or still further as combined with such a weave having afiner mesh contiguous to the sides of the fra-me, it presents an innovation in the lart, and one calculated to increase not alone the durability, but also, the eliiciency.

Having fully described myV invention,y

what I claim therefore and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a tennis racket, the combination of a suitable traine, a net strung inisaid frame,

and means comprising additional strings inl teriorlv adjacent to, and connected with,the four sides of said-trarne, adapted to ,main-l tain the uniformity ofthe mesh' in the mid-y die. aud effect the more even distribution oi strains `at the edges, ot'.a.1d net.

:In a tennis racket, the combination of a suitable frame, a net strung in said frame,-

and means' comprising a number of additional strings adjacent to each of the tour sides, and intersecting at ythe corners, ot said traine, adapted to maintain the uniformity ot the mesh at the middle, and ettectthe more even distribution of strains at the' edges, of said net.

In a tennis racket, the combination of a suitable frame, a net strung in said frame,

having a number of its outwardlydocated.

longitudinally extending strings strung sides form a longitudinally disposed rec-4 closer than the remaining longitudinallystrung strings, and having a number of its p outwardly', located laterally extending;y strings strung closer than'the remaining` laterally-strung strings.

4. In a tennis racket, the combination Aof '70 a suitable traine, a net strung in said frame, D having a ,number of its outwardly-located" longitudinally extending strings *'strung" closer than the remaining longitudinallystrung strings, and having a number of its-Thi outwardly located laterally extending strings v strung closer than the remainin laterally-strung strings, the inmost of lsai outwardly-located laterally and longitudinally extending strings intersecting each other at right angles to form corner portions of the net having smaller mesh than in any other part of the net.

5. In a 'tennis racket, ,the combination with aframe, of a net strung in said frame', 85 said net having a number of oblique strings around its outer edge, and secured to the traine at a number of points.

6. In a tennis racket, the combination with a frame, of a net strung in said frame, and including a plurality of oblique strings adjacent, and secured, to said'frame.

7. In a tennis racket, the combination with a frame, of a net strung in said frame, said net including oblique strings adjacent to, and secured to the middle of the four sides and corners of, .said frame.

8. In a tennis racket, the combination of a suitable frame, a ,net strung in said frame, axnd a plurality of additional strings foi'm- 100 ving a rectangle and extending outward from the corners of said rectangle, land securedi to a number of points on said frame.

9. In a tennis racket, the combination of alfraine, a net strung in said frame, a plu 105 rality ot strings looped about said frame and aroundeach .other to :lfo'rm` four outwardly positioned triangles whose connected inner tangle. .i

10. In a tennis racket, the .combination with a trame strung with a net of rightangled mesh; ot' two strings interwoven adjacent nto said traine and obliquely relative to said mesh to forni four outwardly p0si- 115 tioned triangles whose 'apexes loop about the four sides andcorners ofthe frame, whose inner sides loop about each other to forml a longitudinally disposed rectangle.

l1. In a tennis racket, the combination of 120' a suitable frame, a net strung in said frame, having a number of its outwardly-located longitudinally extending strings woven closeixiand having a number of its outwardly located laterally extending strings 12 5 woven closer, the innermost of said more closely woven strings intersecting each other at right `angles to form a longitudinally disposed rectangle of larger mesh, and a numnally' extending strings of said net, outber of additional strings Woven oblquely wardly located'relative to said rectangle, be-

- between said rectangle and frame. ing strung closer than the remaining later- 12. In a tennis racket, the combination of ally and longitudinally extending strings.

5 a suitableV frame, a net strung in said frame, Signed by Ine(` this 4th day of October, 15

and a number of strings looped through said 1909.

frame and around each other, to form four CURT B. MUELLER.

outwardly positioned triangles whose con- Attested bynected inner sides orin a longitudinally dis- CHARLOTTE C. GEUDER,

lo posed rectangle, the laterally and longitudil FREDERICK D. SCHNEIDER. 

